The Principle of Submission and a Wife’s Calling
Main Idea of Ephesians:
Ephesians reveals God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, detailing our spiritual riches, the Church’s unity as His body, and our calling to live out this new identity.
Recap from Last Lesson:
In our previous lesson (Eph 5:15-21), we learned that a wise, Spirit-filled walk is the antidote to a wasted life. Instead of being controlled by worldly influences, we are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. This Spirit-filled life overflows in tangible results: joyful worship, constant gratitude, and the foundational principle for this week’s lesson—mutual submission “to one another in the fear of Christ.”
Questions to Consider:
Verse 21 is a command for all believers. What does it mean to “submit to one another”? How does starting with this principle change how we view the specific instructions that follow?
Paul commands wives to submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.” What does this comparison imply about the nature and motivation of her submission?
The reason given for a wife’s submission is that “the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.” What does the word “head” mean in this context, especially when paired with Christ’s role as “Savior” of the body?
How does a wife’s submission to her husband differ from the world’s idea of submission, which often implies inferiority?
The Text:
“… submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.
– Ephesians 5:21-24 (CSB)
Observations:
The Foundational Hinge: Verse 21, “submitting to one another,” is the conclusion of the previous section and the foundational command for this entire section on household relationships. The instructions that follow are applications of this principle.
A Specific Application: The instruction for wives is the first specific example of what mutual submission looks like in a particular relationship.
The Divine Parallel: The analogy is immediately established: the husband-wife relationship is meant to mirror the Christ-Church relationship. This is the key to understanding the entire passage.
Headship and Salvation: Paul defines Christ’s headship not in terms of raw authority, but in connection with His role as “Savior” of the body, implying care, responsibility, and rescue.
Interpretation:
The Foundation: Mutual Submission (v. 21): Before giving any specific instructions, Paul lays down a universal principle for all Spirit-filled believers: a mutual willingness to place others’ interests before our own. This is not a command for chaos, but for an attitude of humility and service, done “out of reverence for Christ.” This principle of a servant’s heart must govern all our relationships, including marriage.
A Wife’s Calling: Respectful Submission (vv. 22-24): Within the context of mutual submission, the wife has a unique, God-given role. She is called to voluntarily and respectfully align herself with her husband’s leadership. This is not a declaration of inferiority or a command to obey sin, but a beautiful reflection of the divine order.
The Motivation: Her submission is performed “as to the Lord.” This means her primary act of obedience is to Christ Himself. By honoring the role her husband has been given, she is honoring the Lord who designed it.
The Model: The reason for this role is that it mirrors the relationship between the Church and Christ. Just as the Church joyfully and willingly submits to the loving leadership of Christ, her Head and Savior, so a wife is called to submit to her husband. This headship is not a license for a husband to be a domineering boss, but a call to be a loving, caring, and responsible leader, a concept that will be explained fully in the next section.
Application:
For All Believers: Before considering any other relationship, do you have a heart posture of mutual submission? Are you willing to put others first out of reverence for Christ?
For Wives: Do you view submission as a burden or as a beautiful act of worship to the Lord? How can you practically and respectfully support your husband’s leadership role in your family this week?
For Husbands: This passage lays the foundation for your role. Seeing that your wife’s submission is modeled on the Church’s submission to Christ as “Savior,” how does this prepare you for the immense responsibility of loving leadership that will be discussed next?
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage begins to detail how the Spirit-filled life practically transforms the most basic unit of society—the family. By living out these God-designed roles in marriage, believers demonstrate the beauty and wisdom of God’s plan and create a powerful picture of the “Church’s unity as His body.”
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
Christ is the central figure and the ultimate reason for these commands. Our mutual submission is done “out of reverence for Christ.” A wife’s submission is done “as to the Lord.” The entire structure is patterned after the relationship between Christ and the church. He is not an afterthought; He is the model, the motivation, and the goal.
Summary:
Beginning with the biblical principle of mutual submission, Paul then goes on to explain how a Spirit-filled life applies to marriage. He calls on wives to respectfully submit to their own husbands, not as an expression of lesser value, but as a beautiful act of worshipful obedience to the Lord. This role is patterned directly after the Church’s submission to Christ, its loving Head and Savior, setting the stage for the husband’s corresponding responsibility.
Be Intentional:
If married: This week, focus on verse 21 together. Discuss: “In what ways can we, as a couple, better practice mutual submission, putting each other’s needs and desires before our own out of reverence for Christ?”
If single: Pray for the wives in your church or for your future wife. Pray that they would find joy and strength in their God-given role and that their submission would be a beautiful testimony to their love for Christ.
Ask Yourself:
(For all) Does my attitude in my relationships reflect a heart of mutual submission, or do I tend to demand my own way?
(For wives) When I disagree with my husband, is my first instinct to respectfully appeal and trust, or to criticize and resist? How can I better reflect the Church’s trust in Christ?
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. (General Editor). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary – CCE). B&H Publishing Group.
O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians (Pillar New Testament Commentary – PNTC). Eerdmans.
Stott, John R. W. The Message of Ephesians (The Bible Speaks Today – BST). InterVarsity Press.
Thielman, Frank. Ephesians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament – BECNT). Baker Academic.
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